After the Cold War: The United States, Germany, and European Security

Abstract

The onset of the Cold War was, at least in part, caused by the struggle over how to incorporate Germany into the postwar order. Despite total military defeat, the devastation of its economic base, and the loss of its political sovereignty, Germany remained a potentially important European power. If its economic and military potential could be controlled by either the United States or the Soviet Union, it might well determine which side emerged victorious in the Cold War. Today, as Europe, the republics of the former Soviet Union, and the United States begin to fashion a new European order, Germany will again play a pivotal role. Indeed, many of the ideas and concerns that governed the thinking of policymakers during the postwar era, as to how to end the division of Germany and still maintain the stability and security of Europe, will reemerge as contemporary leaders try to forge a post-Cold War order on the Continent.